Marco Zanini 1954–

Born in Trent, Zanini graduated with a degree in architecture from the Università di Firenze and later took several courses at the Architectural Association in London. From 1975 to 1977 he traveled through Mexico, Canada, and the United States, where he worked briefly. At the end of 1977, he returned to Italy and settled in Milan where he began working with Ettore Sottsass. He became a partner in the Studio Sottsass Associati in 1980, and in 1981 was a founding member of the Memphis Group, in which he participated actively through 1988. He showed in several exhibitions with Memphis, designing ceramics, lighting systems, furniture, and several series of glass objects crafted by the Vetreria Toso Vetri d’Arte. He collaborated with Studio Sottsass Associati on many projects such as office furniture for Knoll International, exhibition designs and interiors, urban furniture, and industrial design objects. Independently, he designs and makes jewelry, ceramics, furniture, and blown glass objects (Venini, 1989).